POSTED UNDER Mini Tummy Tuck Reviews
Only Enough Skin for a Mini Tuck: May 6, 2011: Alberta, Canada
UPDATED FROM Susan9929
1 month post
Just about to hit 8 weeks post op! Life is pretty...
WORTH IT$9,000
Just about to hit 8 weeks post op! Life is pretty much back to normal. Athough I was cleared to get back to the gym at 6 weeks po, I didn't have time until last week. It felt great to workout but I could feel my limitations, I do a lot of spin bike but I couldn't stand and peddle. I have to wait six months to resume any type of sit up, which is fine by me, as that is my least favorite exercise area!
I have yet to sleep on my side either, I am a fetal position sleeper normally but even with pillows under my legs, it is not comfortable. One really positive difference I have noticed after the TT is that I do not wake up 3 or 4 times in the night to pee!? That is a great extra bonus for me.
I have little to no swelling at night and just concentrating on healing my TT scar.
I still struggle with the stretchmarks. I bought two bikinis but not sure if I will have the guts to wear them. The more time that passes and the flatter my tummy gets, the more noticeable they are. Not sure if I will try and get anything done about that, as there seems to be no treatment that works to drastically improve their appearance.
I have yet to sleep on my side either, I am a fetal position sleeper normally but even with pillows under my legs, it is not comfortable. One really positive difference I have noticed after the TT is that I do not wake up 3 or 4 times in the night to pee!? That is a great extra bonus for me.
I have little to no swelling at night and just concentrating on healing my TT scar.
I still struggle with the stretchmarks. I bought two bikinis but not sure if I will have the guts to wear them. The more time that passes and the flatter my tummy gets, the more noticeable they are. Not sure if I will try and get anything done about that, as there seems to be no treatment that works to drastically improve their appearance.
Susan9929's provider
UPDATED FROM Susan9929
1 month post
5 Weeks Post-op: What a difference! Since my...
5 Weeks Post-op: What a difference! Since my last post, I can't believe the improvement in how I feel. I am standing up straight (finally), the tightness from the muscle repair is totally gone. My scar is healing very well and I have such a flat tummy! I do still experience end of the day swelling but its very minimal. I have lost 6 pounds of muscle mass since the surgery, so I am looking forward to getting back to the gym but waiting for the go ahead from my PS next week. It's been a long 5 weeks with many emotional days but I know that resuming my exercise will complete the healing process for me.
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM Susan9929
28 days post
Post op 4 weeks: I have recovered from last weeks...
Post op 4 weeks: I have recovered from last weeks nasty cold but I am sure that set my healing back a week with all the coughing and sneezing. I was so afraid that my muscle tightening would somehow be weakened or damaged. I haven't had a cold in so long, but with reduced immunity from surgery I couldn't fend off the virus that was being passed around our home.
I have been driving my kids to school and running errands since week two and there was no hiding that I had surgery, especially from school moms, so I have been answering a lot of questions. I found out one other Mom had a TT two years ago and a few others want to have it done but after seeing me walking, they thought it looked too painful, haha.
I returned to work four days ago; even though I sit at a desk, I still found it tiring.
Walking is easier but I have to be careful not to walk too quickly or with long strides (I am usually a very fast walker), so this is a challenge. If I do, I am quickly reminded with a twinge or strained feeling in my lower abdomen that I need to slow down or shorten my stride, yes body, I am listening.
I am now sleeping in bed with my husband but still on my back with pillows under my knees and a neck rest - oh fetal position, I miss you.
My butt is starting to look flat and I long to work out but I am just not ready yet. My next Post Op is on June 17, two weeks away.
How do I feel about my results right now? Its a definite improvement from what I started with. I still see stretchmarks, especially in the sun. Alas, I was hoping for a miracle but that is not happening. I feel this is the best result that could have been achieved in my situation. The alternative was a full TT with a long vertical scar and stretchmarks, I don't think that would have been better.
I pick myself apart and am my own worst critic. My husband thinks I look sexy and I need to be happy with that! Will I be able to shed this self consciousness and wear a bikini or will the one piece bathing suit be the only way I feel confident ... ?? Hmph.
I have been driving my kids to school and running errands since week two and there was no hiding that I had surgery, especially from school moms, so I have been answering a lot of questions. I found out one other Mom had a TT two years ago and a few others want to have it done but after seeing me walking, they thought it looked too painful, haha.
I returned to work four days ago; even though I sit at a desk, I still found it tiring.
Walking is easier but I have to be careful not to walk too quickly or with long strides (I am usually a very fast walker), so this is a challenge. If I do, I am quickly reminded with a twinge or strained feeling in my lower abdomen that I need to slow down or shorten my stride, yes body, I am listening.
I am now sleeping in bed with my husband but still on my back with pillows under my knees and a neck rest - oh fetal position, I miss you.
My butt is starting to look flat and I long to work out but I am just not ready yet. My next Post Op is on June 17, two weeks away.
How do I feel about my results right now? Its a definite improvement from what I started with. I still see stretchmarks, especially in the sun. Alas, I was hoping for a miracle but that is not happening. I feel this is the best result that could have been achieved in my situation. The alternative was a full TT with a long vertical scar and stretchmarks, I don't think that would have been better.
I pick myself apart and am my own worst critic. My husband thinks I look sexy and I need to be happy with that! Will I be able to shed this self consciousness and wear a bikini or will the one piece bathing suit be the only way I feel confident ... ?? Hmph.
Replies (5)
June 5, 2011
Your belly looks awesome and your scar is so low and symmetrical. Your surgeon did a wonderful job. I bet you are thrilled(-:
June 5, 2011
Thanks Jesse, I am happy with the scar. My C-section scar was super low to begin with, so PS had to incorporate that into the new incision. I didn't end up with dog ears either, so that was also a bonus. Just wish the stretchmarks were all gone! Good luck with your surgery!!
June 5, 2011
Thanks, if I look half as good as you do I will be happy. I can't wait for the skin to be gone.
June 5, 2011
Thanks Jesse, I am still getting use to my new self and still feel really bashful (like I'm hiding something - so weird) but I am sure with time, I will have the confidence to strut my new tummy :). Good luck and I will make sure to watch your progress!
June 5, 2011
did you get a boob job too, your boobs look so good,LOL (not in a gay way)
June 5, 2011
Yes, I had a breast augmentation with saline implants in 1996. I wanted to have them replaced this year because I thought, since they are past their life expectancy, I would be proactive. After inspection from two PS, I was told since I have no problems and both implants are completely intact, that there was no reason to replace them. So much for the 10 year rule!
June 5, 2011
what do you mean by "life expectancy" i have thought about getting them after my next kid but worried about the whole expirey date thing, or what happens when you are 50 or 60>? anyways, did it hurt when you got them, do they drop into place? how much was it and what made you get saline over the gummy bear ones ( i heard those were the best)...thanks alot! :)
June 5, 2011
Missmullen, if you read the comments on realself made by PS regarding the lifetime of implants, most will say 10 maybe 15 years. When I had them done in 1996, that PS told me I would never have to have them replaced - seems like a strange comment now, especially since these new implants are probably better made than the ones in 1996. I opted for saline, because at that time, silicon had been taken off the Canadian market. I would have, however, chosen saline anyway, as I would rather have salt water leak into my body as opposed to silicone. As it stands right now, the PS said that eventually, a small hole could develop in one or both of my implants and I will wake up with a "flat tire", yikes! Knock on wood, I have had no complications and even went through pregnancy and 4 months of breastfeeding with them and they still look great. As far as the gummy bear implants, I have two friends who have them, they look good but no better than mine. I don't buy the whole, they feel so much more natural .... I want them to look good, I don't care how they feel from the outside! Although gummies will never leak, or burst (from trauma) as they are solid, they can still be broken down by the body. The negative comments I heard from my two friends were that they feel very heavy and the scars are considerably longer than the ones I have. I have heard to many stories of health complications with silicon (women feeling sick, tired, unwell ...) the only complication that concerned me with saline (or any implant) was capsular contraction. That's just my two cents and opinion though, everyone is different.
As for my experience, at the time I had the implant surgery, I was bodybuilding. I had very dense pectoral muscles and since the implants were placed under the muscle (pretty standard now), the pain was incredible as creating the pocket caused a lot of damage to my muscles. It was a month until I could use my arms properly. It took a year for them to drop into place but it was the best thing I did for myself! Tummy tuck, second best thing :)
Good luck in your decision but you have to do what is right for you and your body!
As for my experience, at the time I had the implant surgery, I was bodybuilding. I had very dense pectoral muscles and since the implants were placed under the muscle (pretty standard now), the pain was incredible as creating the pocket caused a lot of damage to my muscles. It was a month until I could use my arms properly. It took a year for them to drop into place but it was the best thing I did for myself! Tummy tuck, second best thing :)
Good luck in your decision but you have to do what is right for you and your body!
July 1, 2011
i just saw this, thanks...yeah idk, if i will get them, i know somewomen who got the gummies and they look great,lol..but im still a chicken about it all...even considering getting a filler for my smile lines and that to me is a huge decision,lol...let alone plastic surgery, so idk...
June 6, 2011
Very excited, I am scheduled for a mini TT on 6-24-2011.
June 6, 2011
luv2shop - Yeah! Another Mini-TT'er :) We need more of us. I have been posting on the Full TT May Chekc in, but I did also have major muscle repair and have a full TT scar. What does your surgery entail?? You must be getting so excited!
Replies (5)
Can I ask if they did something to your bellybutton? It looks really good. The one thing I can't stand about full tucks is the weird, slit-like bellybutton they generally seem to create for you, but with a mini-tuck, it seems they pull everything down, so the real bellybutton ends up being super low. You seem to have managed to avoid both issues, so I'm curious what they did to you.
Enjoy your new hot body!
Without seeing photos of your belly, I recommend talking to a plastic surgeon first before you commit to a skin tightening procedure. Also, know that the skin tightening does not last forever, it will eventually begin to sag again.
As Mom2Four stated, you can definitely get a great looking new belly button but you need to find the right PS. Make sure to ask to see pictures of other TT's and belly buttons and if he/she has performed a similar surgery on someone else with a similar build and weight. Also, bring in pictures of belly buttons you like to show the PS what you consider a good looking button.
There are few good candidates for mini tucks, as I am sure you have seen. Regarding my belly button, I didn't have a large amount of skin removed and when he pulled the remaining skin down, it created a hooded look. You are right, in some cases, it makes the belly button position look abnormally low. This was a discussion that I had with my PS and one of the reasons I chose this option.
I hope that helps and good luck!